Dictation mask structure



Oct. 30, 1956 H. L. WEBB 2,769,039

DICTATION MASK STRUCTURE Filed June 3, 1953 F IG INVENTOR, HORACE- L. WEBB United States Patent DICTATION MASK STRUCTURE Horace L. Webb, Fairfax, Va.

Application June 3, 1953, Serial No. 359,397

1 Claim. (Cl. 179187) This invention relates to a mask structure as used in recording machine dictation and is of the general character disclosed in such patents as those issued to me Nos. 2,526,177 October 17, 1950; 2,572,547 October 23, 1951; and 2,625,615 January 13, 1953; and in my pending application Serial No. 324,306.

One prime object is to provide a novel construction employing flange means to seal the casing against the escape of sound and to enable snap connection of the mask elements to and from the casing to facilitate ease of changing of the mask With respect to the casing, as well as inspection and substitution of parts.

Another object is to provide for novel mounting of the microphone or such accommodation thereof as overcomes liability of the user experiencing electric shocks should his face contact the microphone.

Further, an aim is to provide a device wherein the microphone is most advantageously disposed for sound reception.

Again, it is an object to provide a construction which will promote sanitation incident to its use, and one wherein all of the general objects expressed with respect to my previously referred to constructions are attained.

Various additional objects will be pointed out and otherwise become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one operative embodiment. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation'partly broken away of the improved mask structure;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken through a modified form; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the diflerent views, the invention generally consists of a face-fitting mask-like diaphragm or element A carrying a microphone B and a casing C to be manually supported and held, and which excludes ambient sound and carries a conventional switch D to control operation of the recording machine with which the device is employed. j

Said casing C may be of any suitable size, proportions and material such as modern plastic, metal-like aluminum or magnesium, rubber or cellulose. Between the ends of the casing interiorly thereof, is formed integrally or cemented thereto, an annular ring 11. Removably carried within the casing C is a battle tube structure S which is applicable and removable through the rear or left hand end of the casing C, the latter preferably being equipped at that end with a removable or displaceable closure 12 which directly carries the previously mentioned switch D. As shown but without limitation, closure 12 has a rim 13 removably and frictionally telescoping into the casing C which is adapted to abut a shoulder 14 extending annularly around the interior of casing C.

Obviously the baflle tube structure may be of any desired fabrication, that is containing alternate baffles and filler of cellulose, etc. For sanitary reasons, the face of the baflie tube structure S adjacent the mask element A is covered by a sanitary filter element such as a sheet 15 of cellulose, textile fabric, Kleenex or the equivalent which may from time to time be discarded and replaced. In addition, sheet 15 performs a second function inasmuch as it extends part way longitudinally along the bafile tube S and together with the tube S is of such size as to wedge within the ring 11 as shown in Fig. 3 to hold the parts detachably in place but in a sufliciently stable manner.

Reverting to mask element or diaphragm A, it is a face-fitting shape and this is generally true of the adjacent end wall of casing C. This mask element or diaphragm A may be made in one or more pieces of soft or resilient natural or synthetic rubber, pliable plastic or any equivalent, and have a relatively thin flange 16 extending preferably continuously around and inwardly from its periphery and arranged to surround and fit the face of the dictator about the mouth and nose. Such flange is at the free edge portion thereof, is preferably spaced outwardly from the remainder of the mask ele ment to afford maximum contact and sealing engagement with the face. One or more openings 17 permit sound travel and breathing.

Formed continually about the forward edge of the mask element A is a mounting flange 18 shaped generally to conform to the adjacent edge of the casing C and at the base thereof to have a wall 19 conforming in shape to the said edge and continually contacting the same throughout its extent. The mask element A is interiorly enlarged as at 20 continuously about the same and contacts the adjacent portion of the casing C opposite to the flange 18. Said flange 18 is of slightly less diameter than the tube C so that it has to be stretched slightly in order to engage the tube C whereby there will be gripping engagement and a seal formed at the junction of the mask element A and tube C to exclude ambient sound and prevent loss of dictation sound. Toward the same end the enlargement 20 is preferably of slightly greater diameter than the interior diameter of the tube C. A sealing engagement and grip is thus effected by the mask element A with both the interior and exterior walls of the casing, enabling the mask element to be secured with a gripping and snap action sufficient to hold the parts against accidental detachment although permitting easy changing whenever necessary for inspection, cleansing, repair or substitution.

It is to be particularly noted that the diaphragm B which may be of any suitable construction, is so disposed that it cannot directly engage the face of a dictator which is highly advantageous since in certain existing machines, contact of the face with the microphone causes electric shocks. In attaining this end, I am also able to dispose the microphone so as to be close to the mouth to more advantageously cause emitted sound waves to cross and strike the microphone at an angle, as well shown in Fig. 3. Such microphone B may be mounted as shown and described in any suitable manner, but preferably is elastically gripped and retained in an opening by the mask element itself, and to this end the mask element about the opening is formed with an enlargement 21 having an annular groove G open at the said opening. In this way, the enlargement 21 may be stretched in order that a flange 22 of the microphone may be engaged therein, gripped and held by the enlargement. In addition, it is to be noted that the opening is filled by a disk of plastic gauze, preferably of an electric insulating material or any equivalent at 23. Such disk 23 is carried by the microphone and has its edge annularly turned into. a flange 24 of U-shape in cross-section, the space of the U gripping permanently or detachably the said flange 21 as shown. It will thus be clear that the enlargement 21 can be stretched as to unitarily receive the microphone B and disk 23 applied and removed as a unit while being adapted normally to be gripped and elastically held within the groove of said enlargement. As thus shown, the microphone is inset sufiiciently to avoid danger of its contacting the face of the dictator and his obtaining shocks, and it will be further noted that the main portion of the disk 23 is even spaced away from the microphone B at the receiving opening.

It will be noted that suitable electric wiring 25 operatively connects the normally open switch D and microphone B passed suitably into the interior of the casing C.

In operation, the casing C is held in either hand with the switch D uppermost so that the latter will naturally be positioned for operation of a finger or fingers of that hand without sacrifice of the grip on the casing. This results in holding the device securely in position to be readily applied to the face with flange 18, contacting the face and the mask generally extending under and about the chin and sides of the face, and with the mouth and nose disposed within the said flange 18. The casing is thus practically sealed against the face, especially in view of my present improvements at the flange 18 alone or together with the associated parts. The microphone is especially disposed for maximum efficiency in transmitting dictation sound waves operating in connection with a talking-machine and under control of the switch D. The talking or dictation will be silent with respect to all surrounding persons, a supply of suflicient air and sound being provided for, and all parts being accessible for inspection, cleaning, removal, repair and replacement.

The modified form of Figs. 4 and corresponds to the previous form asidefrom the mounting of the microphone in the mask, the materials in the modified form being the same or corresponding to those of like parts in the first form." Said microphone is here designated B and removably rests in an opening 26 of the mask. Said microphone is here designated B and removably rests in an opening 26 of the mask. Said microphone B has a part b overlapping the mask A as shown, and is releasably held in place by a rubber or other elastic band 27 stapled at 28 to the mask and having strands 29 and 30,

4 respectively, gripping the back and one side of said microphone B as shown. Optionally, mask A has a reinforcing flange a about the opening 26 to inset the microphone, and across the latter and removably held in place by the microphone as shown is a disk of plastic gauze 23 of the same material and for the same purpose as disk 23.

Various changes may be resorted to, provided they fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a dictation structure for operative electrical connection to a dictating machine and including a sound-confining casing and a mask element, said casing being a tube, said tube initially having first and second open ends, a battle structure within said tube applicable and removable through said first open end, a replaceable sanitary filter sheet within said tube disposed across the baflie structure at the end thereof remote to said first open end and marginally extending along the adjacent end of the bafiie structure, ring means on the interior of the wall of the tube to wedgingly engage and removably retain said baffle structure with said sheet positioned as aforesaid, a closure for the tube coacting with said first open end, the edge of said second open end of the tube being irregular in approximate conformity with the users face, said mask at said second open end having a portion in sound-excluding engagement with the tube, said mask having a diaphragm in line with said filter sheet and bafiie structure, a microphone carried by said diaphragm,

said mask at said second open end generally conforming to the shape of the users face and having inner and outer walls in gripping and sound-excluding engagement with the second open end of the tube, said diaphragm having a microphone-receiving opening and an enlargement surrounding said opening, and said microphone being interengaged with the Wall of said enlargement.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

